While already an all-time classic, Skittles have long upgraded its flavor
arsenal to a number of different varieties including Tropical, Sour, Sweet
and Sour, Orchards and Wild Berry. There’s also a long line of limited
edition or discontinued flavors including Ice Cream, Carnival, Mint,
Citrus, Chocolate, Smoothie Mix and even an upcoming NFL edition called
Trick Plays.

Price: $.99

Available at: Walgreens

Through: Possibly permanent (probably not though)

The weird part about this is, as everyone knows, Wild Berry are the best
kind, so there’s not even a point in making new Skittles. (I will go to the
grave on this.)

Starburst is in the same boat. There’s everything from Superfruit to Minis
to FaveREDS, which are the pink and red flavors together at last.

Still, there’s only so many combinations of fake flavorings before you are
backed into a corner and need to create something new. Wrigley’s, the
parent company of both Starburst and Skittles, have decided to take a big
swing in a different direction using two of its most famous creations.

The result is new Sweet Heat Skittles and Starburst, a spicy variant on the
two staples. They are not the first candy company to try this as Warheads
sour candy recently debuted its spicy Hotheads line. There’s also a long
history of spicy Mexican-inspired candies and treats using tamarind, chili
powder or cinnamon. It seems that Wrigley’s is just trying to get ahead of
the industry if spicier treats are to be the next snack fad.

This actually isn’t the first time Skittles has experimented with spicier
flavors as their long-discounted Australian-only flavor Skittles Sensations
featured Chili Berry and Lemon Tingle. I am not a big fan of spicy foods and have the sensitive tongue of a baby
calf. Still, I can appreciate something for what it is because I am a
profess… Nevermind, I just tried them.

These are the worst.

I hate this. I hate this so much. I hate having to try two of the flavors
and both being terrible and having to have an open mind for the other
flavors when the same anger-inducing result occurs. It’s not even blended
well if you did like spicy and sweet together, so you don’t really get the
mixed sensation necessarily. It’s basically a regular candy until you
swallow it, then comes the awful spiciness. First it’s sweet. Then it
sucks.

Bryan Bierman/for PhillyVoice

Sweet Heat Skittles and Starburst

Having similar and even identical flavors, the Sweet Heat Skittles and
Sweet Heat Starburst are pretty evenly bad. I would say that the Starburst
version probably has more of the spice per candy, except if you eat more
than one Skittle at a time (like an American).

I almost hate this as much as the
BeanBoozled Jelly Beans
because, while they definitely tasted worse, they were supposed to. The Barf
jelly bean wasn’t delicious at first, it was straight up barf. The Sweet
Heat candy gives you a false sense of happiness on first bite, and then
tricks you with its throat-stinging magic act. Not only do these cost a
dollar, they also ruin your day.

This is something they would sell as a gag gift back in the day in the back
of a comic book, but now it’s a real food. If you give this candy to someone
and they eat it, they’ll say, “That must be expired or something,” but you
get to tell them, “No, it’s supposed to be terrible like that.”

Try giving these out on Halloween and see how fast your house gets egged.

Verdict: I hate this so much but it’s also not made for me. If you like spicy and
sweet together, this is that. Probably still disgusting though. Get this
away.